Moherman Gets Chance to Start in Opener for No. 9 Ohio State

Austin Moherman--who has one pass attempt during two seasons at Ohio State--will start at quarterback Sunday when the ninth-ranked Buckeyes take on No. 12 Miami in the Kickoff Classic at East Rutherford, N.J., Coach John Cooper said Monday.

Moherman, a redshirt sophomore who played at Capistrano Valley and Mission Viejo high schools, had battled with sophomore Steve Bellisari for the job since the spring.

“It has not been torturous,” Moherman said. “I went out every day and did what I could do. I tried to show the coaches. I didn’t focus on the decision.”

Cooper gave Moherman a qualified nod for the starting spot.

“I cannot tell you right now in my mind who I think the best quarterback is, but we think the one who deserves to start in this first game is Austin,” Cooper said.

The decision ended months of buildup and controversy over Ohio State again going with dueling quarterbacks. Ohio State juggled Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine for two seasons before the latter had a breakout season last year as a senior, passing for 3,040 yards and 31 touchdowns as the Buckeyes went 11-1 and finished second in the polls.

Cooper said he would not handle this quarterback battle like he did that one, with Jackson playing the first few series before giving way to Germaine. Whoever was more successful in the first half usually played the majority of the second half.

“We’re not going in thinking that we’re going to have the same situation we had with Joe and Stan,” Cooper said.

Jackson started all but one game ahead of Germaine in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

Like Jackson in his battle with Germaine, Moherman has been on the team a year longer than Bellisari. Bellisari logged more playing time last season, lettering on special teams and as a backup safety. He shared the team’s award for top special-teams player.

“Why did Moherman get the nod over Bellisari?” Cooper said. “Well, he’s had the nod. He’s been our first-team quarterback. Normally when we start out in the spring, seniority rules and he was of course a quarterback last year and started out a little ahead of Steve.”

Several of the Ohio State players said they were happy to have the situation clarified.

“I am just relieved so people won’t be like, ‘Who’s going to start?’ I’m glad to have that part over with,” said wide receiver Reggie Germany.

Cooper said Moherman also had the edge in the team’s August workouts in preparations for meeting the Hurricanes.

“The main reason that we will start Austin in this ballgame,” Cooper said, “is that we grade them every day in practice, we keep charts on completions, interceptions, total yardage and bad plays. For whatever reason, Austin has graded out slightly ahead of Steve--particularly in the last couple of scrimmages we’ve had in the stadium.”

The decision would appear to be yet another step toward the vertical-passing game that Cooper has favored in recent years. Although both quarterbacks have a mix of abilities, Moherman is more of a drop-back passer. His 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame is also more in line with the NFL mold.

“I know I don’t have to go out there and do spectacular things,” Moherman said, “You just have to get the ball to the right people and they will make you look good. Just do sound things and don’t turn it over and we will be all right.”